The controversial referee decision that erased a potential Freiburg lead in the DFB-Pokal semifinal has drawn rare criticism from both sides, with Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav calling it “a blatant mistake” despite benefiting from the call.
In the first minute of extra time, Freiburg appeared to take the lead when Lucas Höler struck the ball into the net. However, referee Tobias Welz and his assistants halted play, ruling a foul on Stuttgart defender Jeff Chabot before the ball crossed the line. The goal was disallowed, sparking immediate fury from Freiburg players, and staff.
Höler confronted Welz directly, telling Sky Germany it was “a disgrace” to wipe away the goal. “I told him it’s a disgrace to disallow that goal. He said it was a clear decision,” Höler recalled, adding that Welz refused to reconsider.
Undav, who scored Stuttgart’s equalizer later in the match, expressed sympathy for Freiburg’s frustration. “I would have gone berserk as a striker,” Undav told Sky. “It’s luck for us, pain for Freiburg.” He emphasized the call was unjustifiable: “You can’t build a worse mistake as a referee. Good for us, of course, but you simply cannot wipe that away.”
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß echoed the sentiment, acknowledging Freiburg’s right to be angry. “You can’t whistle that off. We would have reacted the same way if it happened to us,” Hoeneß said after the 2-1 victory that sent Stuttgart to the final.
The German Football Association (DFB) later weighed in through Marco Fritz, head of rule interpretation and evaluation at DFB Referees GmbH. Fritz described the contact between Höler and Chabot as “a robust but rule-compliant challenge,” suggesting the initial on-field decision to allow the goal would have been correct.
Freiburg’s disappointment was palpable as they exited the competition despite dominating stretches of the match. The disputed goal came early in extra time, denying them a potential 2-1 lead before Stuttgart eventually turned the tide with goals from Undav and Enzo Millot.
Stuttgart now advances to face Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal final, seeking to defend their title. The controversy surrounding the Welz decision adds another layer to a semifinal already remembered for its dramatic swings and contentious moments.
As both clubs prepare for their respective next fixtures — Stuttgart in the final and Freiburg in Bundesliga play — the debate over the officiating in Stuttgart lingers, highlighting how a single moment can reverberate far beyond the final whistle.
Stuttgart will now turn their focus to the DFB-Pokal final against Bayern Munich, with the date and venue to be confirmed by the DFB in the coming days.
